Glossary
Biosolids
The solid portion of wastewater that is separated from the liquid in the treatment plant's clarifiers. After meeting State and Federal regulations it may be used as a soil amendment.
Clarifier
A tank used to hold wastewater while heavier solid material settles to the bottom and lighter material floats to the top. The heavier material (biosolids) is removed from the tank for treatment.
Effluent
Wastewater which has been treated in a series of steps and is discharged into a receiving body of water, such as a river, lake or ocean.
Microorganisms
Very small living organisms that can only be seen through a microscope. Some microorganisms use the wastes in wastewater for food and because of this are used as part of the wastewater treatment process.
Pathogens
Microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses which can cause disease. These are different microorganisms from the ones used to treat wastewater.
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A plant tour
This drawing shows how wastewater moves through the Kennebunk Sewer District Plant as it is treated. Below is a brief explanation of each step. You can click on each title for a more detailed explanation and a picture.
Preliminary treatment
Wastewater collected from the in-town and beach areas of Kennebunk arrives at the Water Street treatment plant where it is screened and measured.
Primary clarifiers
The wastewater then enters large tanks called clarifiers where the solid material settles to the bottom.
Biological treatment
After leaving the primary clarifiers, the wastewater enters special tanks with slowly spinning media covered drums called Rotating Biological Contactors (RBCs). Microorganisms grow on the media that digest the nutrients in the wastewater.
Final clarifiers
After leaving the RBCs, the wastewater enters another pair of clarifying tanks to remove any biosolids left in the water. A portion of the biosolids is returned to the head of the RBC tanks. This recycle enhances the treatment process.
Discharge
After leaving the last clarifying tanks, the water is treated with chlorine,dechlorinated and then discharged into the Mousam River.
Treating the solids
The biosolids removed in the clarifying tanks are stored and eventually dried. After the dewatering step, the solid material is transported to a biosolids processor that further conditions it into a fertilizing soil amendment.
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